Become a FEMM Teacher

FEMM Teachers educate women and girls to understand ovulation as a sign of health. Starting from the physiology of the cycle, FEMM Teachers help women to understand and manage their health and fertility. FEMM Teachers are trained to: 

• Recognize healthy hormonal activity at various stages of a woman's reproductive life, from puberty to menopause
• Recognize normal cycles and symptoms, and receive a referral to a FEMM doctor for diagnosis and treatment in the case of cycle abnormalities 
• Affirm symptoms ranging from acne, a regular bleeding, PMS, and pain, as indicators of health abnormalities; support women to receive medical diagnosis and treatment as needed
• Offer fertility support to help women achieve or avoid pregnancy
• Help women use the FEMM App to build a health record and receive personalized daily feedback about their health and goals

How can I become a FEMM Teacher? 

FEMM offers online Teacher Training Certification Courses. 

• 10-week course instruction and online content, including lectures, quizzes, and support
• Guided practice teaching for 5-6 clients (materials available in English, Spanish, Hungarian, and Lithuanian)
• Full teaching materials provided following certification
• Benefits and resources for Certified Teachers, including new research and webinars, a FEMM teacher group email, monthly case studies, and a listing in FEMM’s online Teacher Directory

What are the topics covered for the FEMM Teacher Training Course (TTC) each week?

Each lecture lasts about 90 minutes, with some time for a Q&A session following.  

1. FEMM Intro & Anatomy
2. FEMM Session 1: FEMM & Your Health (learn how hormones influence your health and how to chart your hormonal activity)
3. FEMM Session 2: FEMM Expert (learn to identify healthy patterns or potential health problems)
4. FEMM Session 3: Family Planning (learn to manage your fertility)
5. FEMM Practice Teaching Overview & Guidance
6. The Reproductive Continuum
7. History of Family Planning Methods
8. The Reproductive Continuum: Cycle Variations & Wellness
9. Medical Management and Infertility
10. teenFEMM Program (providing girls with knowledge about their bodies and cycles, and support to navigate health and well-being during this critical time of life)

Common Questions

What are the coursework requirements? 

Lecture-based coursework (first 10 weeks of course)

• Weekly lecture and quiz
• 3 Practice Charting Homework Assignments (discussed in class each week)

Practice Teaching (can begin on Week 5 of the course)

• Practice teach 3-5 clients
• Individually teach each client the 3 FEMM Sessions, spaced about 1 month apart
• Work closely with each client for 4-6 months, in order for them to achieve 3 full cycles of charting
• Complete Practice Teaching Reporting (3 Session Reports) for Client #1
• After the completion of Practice Teaching Sessions, submit a Final Chart Assessment for all 3 clients

You must complete the lecture and quiz portion of the course and the practice teaching to be eligible for the Final Exam. Once you pass the Final Exam, you become a Certified FEMM Teacher. All exams and teaching materials are included in the course registration fee. 

How long does it take to get certified? What if I don’t finish? 

While the lectures and quizzes are only 10 weeks long, the practice teaching component of the course and taking the final exam typically takes between 6 and 9 months to complete.  We allow for certification within 1 year of the start date of the course. If you need to extend your course, there are options available. If you have previously started a course and not finished, but you'd like to continue, please contact us to discuss individual options.

 Does the practice teaching mean that I need to find 5 of my own clients in order to be certified?

Yes, students are responsible for finding their own clients to teach during certification, and following. Many of our previous students have found success in finding clients by word of mouth, online, or through community organizations.

What if I'm in a different time zone and am unable to attend the live lectures?

The live portion of the teacher training course is a 90-minute session given on Tuesday evenings in USA Eastern Standard Time zone (EST), over 10 weeks. However, the sessions are recorded and the video will be provided so that it can be reviewed anytime during the course. It is not required to attend the lectures live. 

What can I do with my FEMM Certification? 

As a FEMM Teacher, you will be equipped to teach women in your community and online. FEMM does not commit to providing clients to our teachers, however, after certification you will be added to the FEMM Teacher Directory and clients may be able to search your profile. Some teachers set up their own health/fertility coaching practice, others work jointly with clinics or health centers to provide education, and some work solely in NFP circles.

Are FEMM courses offered in different languages? 

Currently, we offer courses in English, Spanish, Lithuanian, and Hungarian. While the language barrier may be a concern, we do have successful participation from many for whom English is a second language. All quizzes, coursework, practice teaching reports, and chart assessments must be completed in the language that the course is offered in.

Will I be able to diagnose and treat hormonal imbalances? 

As a FEMM teacher you will be trained to identify hormonal imbalances in the cycle, such as noting estrogen imbalances or low progesterone. However, since non-medical providers are not equipped to make medical diagnosis or treat individuals, we do not train our FEMM teachers to identify or diagnose specific reproductive disorders such as PCOS or endometriosis. Specific reproductive disorders and cycle patterns are covered in the FEMM Medical Management Training Course. FEMM teachers are equipped to work with clients to identify abnormalities in their cycle, and then refer to trained FEMM medical providers.